Hard cast and steel gongs

obsessed1 · #1 01-19-2021, 11:30 AM

Hey guys quick question regarding ar500 ( 1/2"). Is it fine to shoot it with hard cast 45-70 loads? At say 50-100 yds? Just Don t want to punch holes and ruin my plates lol. figured someone else has tested it out...

brewster29 · #2 01-19-2021, 11:37 AM

You won't punch any holes at 45-70 velocities. It should really ring, though.

NicoyaHunt · #3 01-19-2021, 01:14 PM

AR 500 ( 1/2") You will need a 308 or up to do a hole

Homesteader · #4 01-19-2021, 02:09 PM

It’s velocity that’s hard on AR500. Above 3000fps it starts to get unhappy. I don’t think caliber really matters.

freeride · #5 01-19-2021, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Homesteader

It’s velocity that’s hard on AR500. Above 3000fps it starts to get unhappy. I don’t think caliber really matters.

Thats what I thought as well, my 308, 6.5 at 100 no damage at all, but DONT use a 22-250 or it will zip though.

My GUESS is the big ol 458 bullet will just swing the plate a lot and let out a nice ring.

I am planning on the same thing with my 45/70... so let me know how it goes! lol

obsessed1 · #6 01-19-2021, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freeride

Thats what I thought as well, my 308, 6.5 at 100 no damage at all, but DONT use a 22-250 or it will zip though.

My GUESS is the big ol 458 bullet will just swing the plate a lot and let out a nice ring.

I am planning on the same thing with my 45/70... so let me know how it goes! lol

I have shot mine with every high power rifle from 223-300wm at 100 yds without even a dimple. But they are all frangible bullets....Haven't tried fmj or solids designed specifically for not coming apart and punching through things...

obsessed1 · #7 01-19-2021, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freeride

Thats what I thought as well, my 308, 6.5 at 100 no damage at all, but DONT use a 22-250 or it will zip though.

My GUESS is the big ol 458 bullet will just swing the plate a lot and let out a nice ring.

I am planning on the same thing with my 45/70... so let me know how it goes! lol

I shoot mine with my 22-250 and 55 gr pills all the time. Never an issue

Homesteader · #8 01-19-2021, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by obsessed1

I shoot mine with my 22-250 and 55 gr pills all the time. Never an issue

Well, I guess you’re doing ok then. Shoot it with the 45/70 and cast and report back.

Jerry D · #9 01-19-2021, 06:55 PM

Should be okay with that slow speed. Not a dimple at 100 yards with various accubonds at 2700 FPS and slower on mine. It’s a 6” diameter 1/2” thick. Ar500 is amazing stuff.

Tronneroi · #10 01-19-2021, 08:19 PM

The only suckers that have put holes in my AR500 steel is my 25-06 and 22-250, both were HPBT. Everything larger just splashes off. Mosin made some dimples, but I figure that was just the surplus steel core ammo junk...

Smokinyotes · #11 01-19-2021, 08:22 PM

I’ve shot AR 500 at 300 yards with a 30-338improved with a 240gr otm tactical and it just leaves a little dimple. If you guys are punching through with a 22-250 or 25/06 it’s not AR 500

freeride · #12 01-19-2021, 09:41 PM

From one ar500 manufacturers webpage:

Velocity is the true enemy of your AR500 target. At 100 yards I have seen .22-250 rounds go through 3/8" thick AR500 steel. The fast velocities*(above 3,000 fps at impact) concentrated on a small caliber round create a lot of heat and pressure where it strikes the target. This in turn creates the pits that slowly (or quickly) chip away at our targets.*

22-250, 257Weatherby and such rounds in the 3500 fps. range are harder on steel and targets may have to be moved out to the 200 yard mark or beyond to prevent target pitting.

A few videos on youtube show 22-250 noslers and other like bullets zipping through, a vmax at the same distance just fragments like it's designed to do with no damage.

Anyways back on topic...they also recommend the 45/70 to be 100 yards away. I would start there, move in a few yards at a time and see if there is any pitting.

duceman · #13 01-20-2021, 07:31 AM

started with ar 400 for the first targets we fabbed, lots of holes. then to 500, still holes with high velocity small diameter bullets. now we use hardox, it's like the honey badger, it just don't care!!!

catnthehat · #14 01-20-2021, 07:35 AM

Not sure what ours are made of but even a .50BMG at 600 will not danage them.
at 200 I haven't seen any damage that I can remember even from 338 Lapuas and such . I'll have to ask astepanuk what they are made of , I think he had a hand in ordering the steel.
Cat

catnthehat · #15 01-20-2021, 07:36 AM

Double tap

Tronneroi · #16 01-20-2021, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freeride

From one ar500 manufacturers webpage:

Velocity is the true enemy of your AR500 target. At 100 yards I have seen .22-250 rounds go through 3/8" thick AR500 steel. The fast velocities*(above 3,000 fps at impact) concentrated on a small caliber round create a lot of heat and pressure where it strikes the target. This in turn creates the pits that slowly (or quickly) chip away at our targets.*

22-250, 257Weatherby and such rounds in the 3500 fps. range are harder on steel and targets may have to be moved out to the 200 yard mark or beyond to prevent target pitting.

A few videos on youtube show 22-250 noslers and other like bullets zipping through, a vmax at the same distance just fragments like it's designed to do with no damage.

^^^ What he said...